Bangkok--Jan 29--3Com
3Com Corporation (Nasdaq:COMS), the global leader in Ethernet and Fast Ethernet network interface cards (NICs), announced today several important industry firsts are being delivered on its latest NIC including an unprecedented 17 percent efficiency increase in throughput and CPU utilization over the competition.
The Fast EtherLink XL 10/100 NIC’s exceptional performance is attributed to Parallel Tasking II performance which exploits recent advancements in PCI chipset design to significantly reduce CPU utilization resulting in better desktop application performance. Additionally, the Fast EtherLink XL NIC is the first true Managed PC NIC available today.
“Our installed base of over 10 million 10/100 connections clearly illustrates market demand for 3Com’s high performance solutions,” said Khun Chingchai Maketipphachai, Country Manager, 3Com (Thailand) Ltd. “The new Fast EtherLink XL NIC continues to deliver the industry’s best performance combined with enhanced value-added capabilities that address manageability and reduced cost of ownership”.
3Com Revolutionizes Performance
Setting entirely new performance standards for NICs, Parallel Tasking II performance eliminates PCI bus bottlenecks by bursting a full packet across the PCI bus in one bus master cycle. Previously, PCI chipsets took 24 cycles to transmit one packet resulting in an inefficient system and higher CPU utilization. In optimizing data transfers, Parallel Tasking II performance also improves network response for any application including data-intensive applications such as multimedia, imaging, shared whiteboarding, intranets and virtual private networks (VPNs). These fast data transfer rates are achieved with minimal burden on the CPU meaning users can continue working on their PCs, with little degradation in system performance.
Reduced Cost of Ownership Through Manageability
The Fast EtherLink XL NIC, an integral part of 3Com’s Managed PC solution is designed to reduce the traditional total cost of PC ownership associated with the upkeep of personal computers. With 3Com’s Remote Wake-up feature, PCs can be powered-on remotely from a central management station. This flexibility makes it possible to perform routine maintenance and software upgrades at anytime, even after hours. Network administrators are now able to execute time intensive chores from one location, eliminating the need to go from desktop to desktop for installations or upgrades. End user productivity is also increased due to diminished system downtime during office hours.
“3Com’s introduction of the Fast EtherLink XL NIC coincides with the unprecedented market demand for 10/100 LAN connectivity and a corresponding need for innovative ways to control and manage large networks,” said John Armstrong, principal analyst, Dataquest.
The Fast EtherLink XL NIC is the first true Managed PC NIC and is compliant with the latest PC specifications including Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) and PC97/98. In addition to Remote Wake-up, the 3Com Managed PC solutions comprise several distinct components integrated for optimal desktop management and control including: Desktop Management Interface (DMI) 2.0 Support helps system administrators automatically and remotely create detailed inventories of desktop systems; Managed PC Boot Agent (MBA) allows clients to boot from a large variety of network boot servers to enable centralized system configuration and disaster recovery; Software Update Agent enables users to continually update and enhance NIC functionality quickly and easily with driver and DynamicAccess Software downloads.
The Software Update Agent, provided by Tivoli, is expected to be available in Q1CY98 as a free software download from 3Com’s website. Key Industry Standards Implemented. The Fast EtherLink XL NIC is the first NIC available to implement the latest industry standards for traffic control. The three new standards include: 802.1p provides standards-based end-to-end traffic prioritization; 802.1Q enables standards-based VLAN identification for client PCs; 802.3x automatically negotiates full duplex connections and flow control to minimize dropped packets in congested LANs.
Bringing Intelligence To The Desktop
The NIC plays a key role in optimizing overall network performance, management and control. By allowing IS managers to add intelligence to new and existing 3Com NICs, they are able to easily take full advantage of new standards giving them a network that runs faster and provides businesses the ability to customize and monitor their networks in ways never before possible.
DynamicAccess software delivers a broad array of solutions to network managers including: Traffic Prioritization provides network managers the ability to specify the priority level applications should receive from the network; dRMON SmartAgent software, or distributed remote monitoring, collects and reports network performance; Fast IP, based on Next Hop Resolution Protocol (NHRP), accelerates Intranet performance via short-cuts. Fast IP lets data avoid router bottlenecks, leveraging the speed of switching, while maintaining the control of routing.
The Total 3Com Solution
The Fast EtherLink XL NIC is an integral part of 3Com’s new 10/100/1000 solutions for the workgroup and core of enterprise networks, enabling end-to-end management and control.
With the Fast EtherLink XL NIC and 3Com’s recently announced CoreBuilder 3500 and 9000 Layer 3 enterprise switches, and SuperStack II Switch 1100, 3300, 3900, and 9300 workgroup switches, 3Com is the first company to implement end-to-end support for application prioritization (IEEE 802.1p), traffic control (IEEE 802.1Q), Flow Control (IEEE 802.3x), and cut-through switching (Fast IP). Integrated through 3Com’s standards-based TranscendWare software, 3Com’s workgroup and core solutions operate as a coherent and highly manageable system for easy configuration, troubleshooting and network control.
About 3Com
3Com Corporation enables individuals and organizations worldwide to communicate and share information and resources at anytime from anywhere. As one of the world's preeminent suppliers of data, voice and video communications technology, 3Com has delivered networking solutions to more than 100 million customers worldwide. With global reach and local touch, the company provides enterprises, network service providers and carriers, small businesses and consumers with comprehensive, innovative information access products and system solutions for building intelligent, reliable and high performance local and wide area networks. 3Com has worldwide revenues of approximately $6.0 billion and employs about 13,200 employees in 45 countries. For further information, visit 3Com?s World Wide Web site at http://www.3com.com, or the press site at http://www.3com.com/pressbox.
3Com, EtherLink, Parallel Tasking, Parallel Tasking II, SuperStack and SmartAgent are registered trademarks of 3Com Corporation. CoreBuilder, DynamicAccess and TranscendWare are trademarks of 3Com Corporation. All other trademarks belong to their respective companies.
For more information contact: Mr. Chingchai Maketipphachai Country Manager, Thailand 3Com (Thailand) Ltd. Tel: 231-8151 Fax: 231-8158--End.